Clutch



J. H. ROBERTS.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED 0C'T.25| I9|9| '1,"360 ,320, Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

v 4`SHEETS-SHEET I.

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CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-25, l9l9.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 21 uw I Jplg? J. H. ROBERTS.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.`25. |919.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.v

J. H. ROBERTS.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION man 0121.25. 1919.

Panted Nov. 30, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

@ibo/mega UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE. V

CLUTCH.

,Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

`Applirreton filed October 25, 1919. Serial No. 333,223.

To LEZ mio/1i 'it 'indy concern.

.B it known that I, Josnrn -l. Renners, a citizen oi the United titstes ot America., and a resident ol timidi-.U er, county oi Hertford arul State of Connecticut, here inrented certain new and useful Improveinents in Clutches, ol which the :following is a :tull and cleer specii'icstion.

@ne object of this invention is to construct both the pulley-receii 'friction-cup and the other members ot the clutch oi separable parts to adept theni for .'.ittachnient to n shziit et any point elonfr the length thereof Without disconnectingg` the sha-it troni its hanger, thereby reducing to e. ininiinuin the time required to attach e clutch-pulley to e shaft. This invention has other objects in View which will appear in the course of the speciication.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectionel `view;

Fig. 2 .is a tr'finsverse section on the line lf2- 2 of Fig'. l; y

Fig'. 3 is e similar VView on the line BH3 of Fig. l;

is s eide elevation;

lli o end (i are detail views ot the trietion -rinir spreader;

Fig'. 7 is sectional View ot Fig. l end i, 8 is a perspective rien' ot the upper halt ot the clutch body as viewed i Fig'. l. tteterringr to the drawings by terence chsrscti-irs. i() desiirnzites the triction-cnp which is loosely mounted on the shaitt as usual and is provided also :is usual :it one side with a puHey-receiving; b nb ll which is adapted to receive the usuel split pulley. This friction-cup und" its hub longitudinally into two halves so as to be adapted 'tor ready attachment to the shzitt,

the securing Ineens consisting` oi tour bolts l2 tor the hub sind two bolts lil 'for the triction-cup, these bolts being; passed through. radial flung-is ifi enrried respectively by the cup and the hub, the cup, as Well es the hub being reiessed so as to position the` bolts, together with their nuts and heeds,`

on the line FMT e re di vided sleeve, ns hereinafter set if'orth.

by an annuler dust-guard l5 when the clutch is in operation, as more iully hereinntter set forth.

".lhe 'irietioiroup and the hub are desirably constructed on a wood ,tilling i6 coi7- ered and closed in bv pressed sheet steel shells il', the aioi'efiuufl flanges 14@ being' iirnied by outwardly bending' the edges ot seid shells. ln this way, an inexpensive und .lightstructure is provided. and, besides, by oil-treatins` the Wood in a Wellknown manner, this combined cup and hub will be in a large measure selt-luln'icziting. Any suitable means niey be pro'i/'ided .tor preventing' the friction-cup :1nd .its hub troni sliding' on the shstt in s direction away troni the clutch mechanism; l have shown in dotted lines in Fig'. il s. split coller 18 `for this purpose.

Adjacent the cup side oi the trictionseup is aiiixed to the shaft a clutch-body 'i9 which is desirubly nitide ot pressed sheet steel Welded or brnzed :it the joints and which is constructed in halves so as to be readily clamped on the shatt in abutting' relation to the lfi'ictioncup, suitable keys 2O or other nit-'ans being' provided 'tor preventing.,Y this clutch-body trom turni ng on the shaft. The end olf the clutch-body Where it enters the trictioireup is reduced. in diameter conipnrod with the mein body portion, and upon this refluced tubular part 1 9 is mounted the split triction-ringil 2l which e-riuwted in any suitable manner, pri in two sections pivotailly connected to, 'L

other by e. pivot-pin 22, the open side oi this triction-ring heilt@` coincident with a i'lztttcued shelf 23 termed. on. the ieee oi the clutch body, thus t'm'ininn` between the outer 'twice of ,nid shel'' :ind the innei` 'tric'tion.-i"a.ce of the cup and between the ends ot the triction-ring n chamber or recess tor the reception ot the trictionring-spreading devices hereinafter described. The seid Ailsttened ineinberl or shell2 525i extends mitwslrdly to neer the opposite ond oi. the clutch-body, and et its seid outer end is formed a. radis, shoulder 241 to torni an `abutment tor limiting the outward throw ot the shitter- At the outer "end ot the ilattened port 23, adjoinn ng'the shoulder 2e 'formed a soclret 24 designed to receive n. i fd Wedge secured to the clutch sleeve.` as 'will be hereinetter described.

Thecluteh-body is formed of pressed sheet steel end is hollow in order to reduce` cost and decrease the weight to a minimum, said pressed sheet steel sections being welded or Vbrazed together in any suitable manner.

The two halves of the clutch-body are adapted to be clamped tightly on the shaft and the keys by means of four bolts 25, two at each side of the shaft, these bolts being arranged in peripheral recesses forn'ied in the exteriorl of the clutch-body in the same manner as the recesses 14 are formed in the friction-cup and pulley-hub, namely by bending the sheet steel inwardly to form pockets in the periphery of the cylindrical portion of the clutch-body. These boltpockets are covered by the shifter-sleeve which is adapted to slide on the clutch-body between the aforesaid shoulder 24 and the adjacent face of the friction-cup.

The shifter-sleeve is desirably formed of pressed sheet steel in two halves, in order v that it may be conveniently placed upon the clutch-body after the same and the friction` cup are located on the shaft. This shiftersleeve is provided with the dust-cap l5, heretofore referred to, which cap extends f over upon the periphery of the friction-cup far enough to extend beyond the bolt-recesses 14 therein when the shifter-sleeve is moved into active position. This shiftersleeve is provided with a metal block 26 `riveted or otherwise secured to its inner face and provided with a wedge-shaped nose 2T which is adapted to enter between ringspreadingdevers 28 to thus swing these levers on their pivots and thus spread the friction-ring. The block 26 fits in the socket 24a to key the sleeve to the clutch body and is adapted to abut against the shoulder 24 to limit the outward movement of the shifter-sleeve on Vthe clutch-body; and, to

take the shearing-strain off the rivets, the outer face of this block`26 is provided with with rounded notches in their inner edges,

near their inner ends, and they are maintained in pivotal contact with the pin by projections Vor bosses 32, one being formed on each Vof the levers, on the outer face near its forward end, in such position as to fit a corresponding notch formed in the adjacent end of the friction-ring, and to impinge against the wall thereof, the contacting faces of the friction-ring and the ring. Each lever rests, through the medium of a screw 33, upon the disk-base 3l, so that by turning this screw the lever may be moved nearer to or farther from the center of rotation and thus vary the pressure upon the friction-ring with a given thrust by means of the wedge 2T. It will be observed that when the wedge 27 is thrust between the levers 2S, they will be rocked on the pivot-pin Si) and their bosses 32 will be swung slightly outwardly and forwardly, impinging against the adjacent inclined faces of the ends of the friction-ring and the pin and its base will be moved slightly toward the wedge. In addition to being inclined in a direction opposite to the face of the pivot-pin 30, each end of the frictionring is inclined toward the inner wall of the friction-cup.l so that movement of the bosses 32 toward said inner wall will spread the friction-ring and bring its frietional faces into contact with the frictional faces of the friction-cup. I have shown the projections 32 as being bosses cast or formed on the levers 28, but it will be understood that l may mount friction-rollers in the levers in such manner that these rollers lshall impinge against the inclined faces of the friction-ring sections and thus eliminate a part of the friction engendered in spreadinethe friction-ring.

it will be observed also that the dovetailing of the spreading-levers between the friction-pin and the adjacent faces of the friction-ring ends serves to hold the levers` in place and thus avoids the use of extraneous fastening devices.

The double-walled sheet steel shifter sleeve is. divided longitudinally into two halves or sections semicircular in transverse section, and the outer wall of each section is pressed inwardly to form two semicircular chambers 35 in each half of the sleeve at opposite sides of a semicireular channel 34. The channels 34 of the two hal l' sections form an annular groove or channel for the usual shifter fork. The shiftersleeve is, as stated, made in halves, and these two halves are clamped loosely upon the clutch-body by means of four bolts. 3G. these bolts being set back in recesses formed in the annular chambers 35 as to avoid forming obstructions on the periphery of the shifter-sleeve, The clamping` faces for the bolts are formed by cutting U-shaped slots 44 in the sheet metal outer wall of each chamber 35 to form tongues 3T, the tongues being then bent inwardly and welded or brazed to the inner wall of the shifter-sleeve. as shown in Fig. I-. The openings in the shifter-sleeve, thus formed are closedby means of sliding closureplates 381made'desirably of sprine steel'andladapt-` edfto slide in the annular chamber 35, the inner end of each plate 38 being folded r upon` itself to form a loop 39 adapted to Theserclosureslide; Within the chamiel y plates are curvedtoiconform tothecur@ vature ofthe outer face ofthe `slntterLeleeve7 and the free end `oieachwplate is adapted't-oin@ the clutch; 1 i

To `form more substantiali clamping facce for the shifteresleeve sections tliairI would be aii'orded by the` benttinr parte 37: alone;` l Welder` brazo `in each end= of the chambers` 35 an` additionalcmemben 40 t consisting of a piece of sheetlsteel` bent to conforrnrtoithe curvature of the Walls of the channel l auth the inwardly-bent tonguef. Thesevsheet" steel; members 40 f serve:` to close 1 the 1 endsfof the channele 35i andaffordrsubstantialfabut* ment faces for; the i sliif'tersleevef`` sections: when they are clamped together by the bolts 36,1said boltsi passing entirely through the sheet steel lmernbers 40 and alsothe'im i Wardiy-turned` tongues 37; i i

It-Will be understood thatinsteadlofzthe` tivo-part pivoted friction-ringz shown,` l mayemp-loythe wellhnown oneepiece elastic friotionfring, and* also that` many otherj minor changes in' construction `may be ro sorted to iWithoutmdeparting from the epirit of the inventioin as defined in the claims ap pended.`

For convenience in-adjusting` the screws:` 32, `l provide the friction-cup with a radial passage il in alinement `with the screws 353, so `that by rotatingr z` the i frictiolncup` its sage Lili may bebrought` intoradial alineN menti with either one ofi thescrews 33, there# by permitting a: `screw-driverto be inserted l through passagelili This manner of@ ad-V justing f the spreaderelevers bodily radially for the purpose of increasing or decreasinrr thepressure ofthe friction-ring oirthecupy` it Will be obvious, not only provides a simple manner "of adjustment but alsolprw vides a wide ange ofadjnstmenta i Itwill` be observed that the inner facewof thecup` is provided with two annular friction-faces, one 42 facing` .inwardly toward. the` shaft andthe otherw t3 being arranged substantially alt righta. @les to said `face 4'25 eo as to face toward the `end of theehafnthe face* eLQbeingIat-l a very obtuse angle to the axis of the shaft" While the `facei` standsfat a very acutef angle with reference thereto.` In ope'ration,`` the frictiolrringwvill lirst engage the inwardlyfacing face "l2, and then the ring- Willvslide inwardly until. it jams against the endivisely-fa-cing face 43, the inclination of the face i2 `sewing; virtually to wedge the friction-ring` againstthe end-face 43; thereby greatly promoting the friction between the ring;v and the cup. This arrangement of a double vfriction face is particularly advantageous in that it insuresa quick smooth picking-up `action when the` clutch is thrown in, as is obvious.

The nature and scope ofthe invention havingif been thus indicated and its preferred embodimenthaving been specifically deu 'beah what isclaiined as new is clutch in bei* for friction clutches eeinprieingra praised steel cylinder having a reduced portion forming a pulley-receiving heb, anda tillingtof rigid material extendingl from end to end of the cylinder and provided with an anal shaftaeceivingbore, said bore being enlarged at one end to forni a recese in the outer face of the largerend of the clutch'niember the Walls of which forma friction surfare, and the ends of1 said cylinder beingturln-id imvardly to forni annular langes engijagingg` the ends of saidillingr;

9. Ai clutch melnberforfriction clutches compr: infra pressed ylinder having' a reduced portion forming' ai piilley-receivinp,r hub?` a filling ofrigiidlinaterial extending from `end to `end ofith e cylinder and provided *h an axial shaftreceivingbore; saidbore `d at onevend toforin a recess face ofthe larger end of the clutch member the Walls of Whichfornl-a friction suri'ace, and` the ends ofsaidcylin being; turned inwardly to forni annular engaging the ende of l filling'5 said member being' divided longitudinallyinto two half sections"havingrecesses in their enter surifaces5 and fastening` devices de tachably connrtingf saids half seraions` toher and having their outer ends housed in saidrecesses;

E; ln a clutch,` a frictionfcup made 'in halvesibolts fon elanipingli,1 these halvesupon a shaft, `the-heads and nnteof these bolts being locate d in i recesses formed in 'the periph ery `of the frictioiirupg andl a. shifter-sleeve rn'ovided with dustrap spanning the space between trie shifter-sleeve and the {rieti-oir eupandextending over upon the outer face of the friction-cup so as to thereoy cover the aforesaidireceseeswhen the shifter-sleeve 'is in active position.`

L .A clutch comprising two members of general cylindrical ferm and provided with arial shift-receiving passagesl one of said members haring an internal n' sur face extending around its sh i theother member being' formed of pressed Steel and having/1fA nnel,` and outer Walls p means for detachably connecting the half ioV Ytudinally into half sections and having `annular forl channel, means'for detachably sections of the members together, a doublewalled pressed steel shiftersleeve slidable on said pressedA steel clutch member divided longitudinally into half sections and having an annular fork channel, means for detachably connecting the sections of said sleeve together, and means rotatable with. the pressed steelmember operable by the shiftersleeve for gripping and releasing the internal gripping surface of the other clutch member.

5. A clutch comprising two members of general Vcylindrical form and provided with Vaxial shaft-receiving passages, one of said members having an internal gripping surface extending around its shaft passage and the other member being formed of pressed steel and having inner and outer walls spaced apart, both of said members being divided longitudinally into half sections, m'eans for detachably connecting the half sections of the members together, a double walled pressed steel shifter sleeve sldable on said pressed steel clutch member divided longitudinally into half sections and having an annular Vfork channel, means for detacliabl Y connecting, the sections of said'sleeve together, said pressed steel member having a reduced portion at one end extending within the other member and having a part of the outer wall of one section thereof flattened, a dividedv friction Vring surrounding the reduced end portion ofthe pressed steel member, and ring-expanding means mounted on the flat surface of said pressed steel member and operatively connectedV with the shifter sleeve.

G VA Vclutch comprising two members of axial shaft-receiving passages, one of said members-havingan internal 'gripping surface extending around its shaft passage and the other member beingformed of pressed steel and lhaving inner and outer walls spaced apart, both of said members being divided longitudinally into'half sections, means for `detachably connecting the half sections of the members together, a double-walled pressedA steel shifter sleeve slidable on said pressed steel clutchmember divided longiconnecting the sections of said sleeve together, said pressed steel member having a reduced portion at one end extending within the othermember and having a part of the outer wall of one section thereof fiattened, a divided rfriction ring surrounding the reduced Yend portion of the pressed steel member, a pair of ring-expanding levers pivot-- ally mounted on the Yfiat surface of the pressed steelmember, and a lever-spreading wedge held to one section of the shifter sleeve and slidable over the iiattened surface of the steel member, said member being formed with a longitudinal channel closed at its outer end in which the wedge is .slidably held.

7. In a clutch, a sheet steel body for receiving the shifter-sleeve, said body being made in sections and each section being hollow and being formed of sheet steel.

8. In a clutch, a sheet steel shifter sleeve having inner and outer walls and end walls, the outer wall being pressed inwardly intermediate the ends of the sleeve to form a shifter-fork channel extending circumferentially of the sleeve.

9. In a clutch, a clutch-body, a frictioncup, and a shifter-sleeve arranged on said body and consisting of sheet steel sections clamped over said body, said body being provided with a radial shoulder adapted to limit the outward movement of the sleeve in a direction away from the cup.

10. In a clutch, a sheet steel shifter sleeve having inner and outer walls and end walls, the outer wall being pressed inwardly intermediate the ends of the sleeve to form a shifter-fork channel extending circumferentially of the sleeve, said sleeve being divided longitudinally into two half sections, and fastening devices for detachably connecting the sections of the sleeve with each other.

11. In a clutch, a friction-cup, a clutchbody, ashifter-sleeve'mounted on the body, spreader-levers adapted to be actuated by the shifter-sleeve, a friction-ring adapted to be spread by said levers, and a pivotal support for the inner ends of said spreaderlevers consisting of a radial pin tapered inwardly, the adjacent end of the friction-ring being inclined in a direction opposite to the taper of the pin, a screw being provided for each spreader-lever for bodily adjusting it radially inwardly and outwardly between said pin and the cooperating face of the friction-ring, for the purpose set forth.

12. In a clutch, a pair of clutch members divided longitudinally into sections having recesses in the peripher i thereof adjacent their meeting edges, fastening devices detachably connecting said sections of the clutch members having their outer ends housed in said recesses, and a shifter sleeve slidable on one of said members and formed with an annular hood at one end adapted to embrace the other member, said sleeve and hood being adapted to cover the recesses in said clutch members.

13. In a clutch, a shifter-sleeve made in halves to adapt it to be clamped over the body of the clutch, said shifter-sleeve being hollow and provided with openings in its outer wall, bolts for fastening the halves upon the clutch-body, these bolts and their nuts and heads being located in the hollow portions of the shifter-sleeve, and closure devices mounted in the shifter-sleeve adapted to close said openings in the outer Wall o-f the shifter-sleeve to make the outer peripheral surface of the shifter-sleeve substantially continuous and free of obstructions.

14. In a clutch, a shifter-sleeve made in halves adapted to be clamped over the body of the clutch, clamping bolts Whoseheads and nuts are located in recesses formed in the shifter-sleeve, and closure devices for these recesses to render the outer surface of the shifter-sleeve substantially continuous and free of obstructions.

l5. In a clutch, a clutch member having an internal friction surface and a reduced pulley-receiving hub, a second clutch member having one end housed Within the other clutch member, said members being divided longitudinally into sections having recesses in the periphery thereof adjacent their meeting edges, fastening devices connecting said sections having their ends housed in said recesses, an expansible friction ring rotatable with the second clutch member and located between the periphery of said inember and the friction surface of the other member, a shifter sleeve slidable on the second clutch member, ring-expanding means operable by said sleeve, and an annular hood carried by the sleeve, said sleeve and hood being adapted to cover the ends of the fastening devices in the second clutch member and in the larger portion of the other clutch member and also the ring-expanding means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

JOSEPH H. ROBERTS. 

